MidsommarAfton (Midsummer's Eve)

Trip Start May 27, 2008
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Trip End Aug 27, 2008


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Flag of Sweden  ,
Friday, June 20, 2008

Midsummer to Swedes is like the 4th of July to Americans...a big celebration in the middle of summer full of outdoor revelry and tradition. Towns erect tall poles covered in flowers and vines with wreaths hanging from both ends like a cross. Then children and adults alike dance around this maypole to funny songs that seem to be mostly children's songs. It is the funniest thing to watch. They also set up carnival like booths with lottery wheels and fishing for prizes and dart throwing. All of this to celebrate the coming of the longest day of the year.

Typical fare for the day consists of pickled herring, strawberries, beer, and fresh potatoes. I like the strawberries the best and every family prepares them a different way. Typically they are eaten with whipped cream or with ice cream. But the Skällenäs Family takes them with fresh cream, milk, and sugar. The Swedish strawberries are smaller than American strawberries, but still are sweet and an enjoyable summer fruit Walking to the Gathering Place
Walking to the Gathering Place
 . Herring is eaten during most Holiday it seems and out of the many varieties I think I like the senapsill or mustard herring the best. You can eat them usually with potatoes, with boiled eggs, or just by itself. Fresh potatoes are prepared by steaming them with lots of dill and salt and eating them with butter. They are small potatoes usually round and a staple alongside any meat dish during this time of year. Along with our friend Emil, Staffan and I ate all of these things as we rang in the middle of summer. We also bbq'd some pork to eat as well. After eating at home we headed back to the festivities to encounter the dance area where people dance past midnight to typical Swedish songs as well as popular family appropriate dance music...like jukebox tunes.
Having been a little under the weather I did not fully embrace the alcohol induced craziest of Midsummer Eve, but it still was a good time and a fun holiday to witness as part of my further education in Swedish culture.
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